The British retail world is mourning the loss of one of its most influential pioneers, Vera Weisfeld OBE, who passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on Thursday night, surrounded by her family.
Together with her second husband, Gerald, Vera co-founded the What Every Woman Wants retail empire in the 1970s, transforming it into a beloved national brand that brought the latest fashion trends within reach of ordinary women across the UK.
From Humble Beginnings to High Street Icon
Vera Weisfeld's story is one of remarkable ascent. Born Vera Carlin on 10 February 1938, she entered the world in the basement flat of her family's home in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, a property without electricity or an indoor toilet. Her father, Terry, worked for the Post Office, climbing telegraph poles.
Despite later enjoying immense wealth, she always held a special affection for those modest beginnings. Her first foray into retail began at the age of 15 at C&A on Argyle Street in Glasgow. Demonstrating exceptional talent, she rose from a junior position to head of the branch's 'Marking Off' room within a single year, cultivating a photographic memory for stock, prices, colours, and sizes.
This meticulous retail training became the bedrock of her future success. In 1971, two decades after starting at C&A, she and Gerald launched the first What Every Woman Wants store. Famously, Vera walked out of her initial interview with Gerald, a London rag trade executive, when he tried to hire her to run the store, telling him 'You can't afford me.' They soon became partners in business and in life.
Building a Retail Phenomenon
The couple perfected a powerful partnership: Gerald used his unique buying skills in London's markets, while Vera applied her formidable retail expertise across their rapidly expanding chain. Their formula made high-street fashion accessible and affordable.
The brand became a cultural fixture. Comedian Billy Connolly opened a branch on Argyle Street atop a horse and cart, and their TV adverts were set to the Status Quo anthem 'Whatever You Want'. Staff would sing the company song each morning at store openings.
At its peak, the chain grew to encompass 130 stores nationwide. In 1990, at the height of its success, the Weisfelds sold the business for a staggering £50 million. The sale was celebrated with a lavish hotel party for staff and Scottish celebrities.
A Life Re-evaluated and a Legacy of Giving
The decision to sell followed a profound near-death experience. The couple survived a plane fire shortly after take-off on a flight to Brazil, an ordeal that prompted them to re-evaluate their lives. They vowed to step back from commercial life to focus on family, charity, and personal fulfilment.
True to their word, they established The Weisfeld Foundation, donating millions of pounds to charitable causes, with a particular focus on children. In 1994, they travelled to Bosnia against Foreign Office advice to oversee aid distribution to refugees from the Balkans War. In Romania, they established homes for children with HIV who had been shunned by their families.
Vera's later years were also marked by personal gestures, such as reuniting with five primary school friends from St Patrick’s in Coatbridge and treating them to an all-expenses-paid trip to New York's 5-star Palace Hotel.
For her services to retailing, Vera Weisfeld was appointed OBE. Her husband, Gerald, died five years ago at age 79 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The What Every Woman Wants chain, after several changes of ownership, eventually went into administration in September 2002.
The passing of Vera Weisfeld marks the end of an era for the British high street. She leaves behind a legacy as a retail revolutionary who democratised fashion and a philanthropist who dedicated her success to helping others.
